Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Last of Us Part II.
Discussion of some violent sequences from The Last of Us Part II is included.
Summary
- The aquarium scenes in The Last of Us Part II reveal Abby's complicated relationship with Owen and Ellie's ruthless actions, showcasing the themes of safety and loss.
- The museum flashback highlights the depth of Joel and Ellie's relationship and emphasizes Ellie's grief and remorse following Joel's death.
- The theater scene is a pivotal moment in Abby and Ellie's revenge stories, showcasing their rivalry and the cycle of violence they perpetuate.
HBO's The Last of Us season 2 has been confirmed to follow some of the storyline in The Last of Us Part II, and there are three locations it has to include. The Last of Us season 1's ending mirrored Naughty Dog's first video game in the franchise, leaving room to instantly tackle the highly controversial moments from the second game in season 2. While creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have mentioned they aren't strictly binding the adaptation to the game, they've also said some things will be the same.
Anything from Joel's big moment early on in The Last of Us Part II's story to Ellie's ruthless showdown with Abby near the end could be altered to some degree. With much of The Last of Us season 2 main cast revealed, such as Kaitlyn Dever, who will be playing Abby, and the filming location confirmed as Vancouver, anticipation for the smash-hit TV adaptation's follow-up season is high. Using specific locations from the game, The Last of Us can enhance its story and its two main protagonists.
The Last of Us season 2 has been confirmed to start filming on February 12, 2024.
The Aquarium Reveals Abby’s Pain & Ellie’s Ruthlessness In The Last Of Us Part II
The aquarium, located on Seattle's coastline, features numerous smaller locations that both Abby and Ellie explore, such as a gift shop and a shark exhibit. For Abby, the aquarium showcases how her relationship with Owen became untangled. This involves flashbacks to when they were dating and scenes with them already broken up and him in a year-long relationship with a pregnant Mel. Additionally, Abby tells Owen about her lead on Joel, which she wants to pursue to avenge her dad's death. Thus, the aquarium is a contradictory symbol of safety and loss, which is furthered by Ellie's actions there.
One of the most chilling scenes in The Last of Us Part II is when Ellie reaches the aquarium and ruthlessly murders Mel and Owen because they refuse to share Abby's location. Ellie harbors so much rage over losing Joel that her actions are instinctual instead of calculated. This is further shown by her reaction after killing them when she realizes Mel was pregnant - she appears in disbelief and hunches over. The Last of Us including the aquarium scenes can draw a necessary parallel between Abby and Ellie, which can amplify the complexity of the expected revenge theme.
The Last Of Us Part II’s Museum Amplifies The Relationship Ellie Lost With Joel
Ellie's anger at Joel for preventing her surgery at the Fireflies' base is juxtaposed with the museum flashback, which is one of the most beloved sequences of the game and one of the scenes The Last of Us needs to include. It can provide a rare joyful moment where fans can experience Joel and Ellie's relationship as closely to the latter half of season 1. Here, Joel takes Ellie to a science and history museum for her birthday, where they look at exhibits and sit in a space capsule as Ellie listens to a cassette recording of a rocket launch.
Having this flashback early on in the story pinpoints Ellie's grief at that moment and re-emphasizes what she lost when Joel died, namely how much he cared for her. Since her last interactions with Joel before his death didn't involve her definitively forgiving him, she likely feels remorse and guilt. Including this can tug on the emotional connection Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal established so beautifully when reunited at the end of episode 8, as well as allow fans to enjoy more of the actors' dynamic, which was a huge hit in the first season.
The Theater Brings Abby & Ellie’s Rivalry To A Head In The Last Of Us
Unlike the bittersweet calmness at the museum and the melancholy devolution of Abby and Owen's relationship at the aquarium, the theater is a much more violent culmination of revenge for both Abby and Ellie. This is the first time Ellie and Abby have a physical one-on-one fight since Joel's death, meaning it's a pinnacle moment in their individual revenge and retribution stories, as well as the overarching narrative. Abby kills Jesse and holds Tommy at gunpoint, firmly establishing herself as a major threat to Ellie and her loved ones.
Since this is following Abby's discovery of Mel and Owen's dead bodies, it's somewhat of a mimicry of Ellie's rage at the aquarium. During a brutal melee fight backstage, Abby even fights off Dina, who tries to give Ellie some reprieve. When Ellie mentions Dina's pregnancy in a plea to stop Abby, Abby replies with "good." This signifies the cycle of revenge Ellie and Abby continuously facilitate throughout the story.
Although Abby leaves without killing them, she warns Ellie that they should never cross paths. However, Ellie ultimately pursues her again later. Thus, this sequence is a crucial decision-making moment for Ellie's story and should, therefore, be included. To help draw the comparison between Ellie and Abby that the game repeatedly does, the series should include core moments and their corresponding locations. Developing Ramsey's Ellie and Dever's Abby through intricate parallels and juxtapositions - like in the aquarium and theater scenes - can be compelling, especially if The Last of Us season 2 uses non-linear storytelling.
